The 4Cs Guide of Diamonds

An international measure of quality

Swarovski Created Diamonds Jewelry Read the Buying Guide

What Are the 4Cs of Diamonds?

Universally recognized, the 4Cs are a guiding light in the world of diamonds, helping to determine the quality and value of each stone - the 4Cs stand for color, cut, carat, and clarity. The laboratory grown diamonds in the Swarovski Created Diamonds collections are graded against these 4Cs by IGI, the International Gemological Institute. The laboratory grown diamonds in these collections are of very fine quality: G+ in color and VS+ in clarity.

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What is diamond clarity?

Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity of the stone graded by the visibility of two types of characteristics - inclusions and blemishes. In order to assess clarity, the diamond is inspected under 10x power magnification. The number and nature of external (blemishes), and internal characteristics (inclusions), as well as their size and position, determine the clarity grading.

Clarity Principles and Factors

The clarity of a laboratory grown diamond is judged by its flaws, which means the inclusions and blemishes that give it unique character and charm. Discover more about diamond clarity below.

INTERNALLY FLAWLESS

The highest possible clarity of diamond is an internally flawless (I.F.) stone. These are incredibly rare and most mined and laboratory grown stones have inclusions.

To The Naked Eye

While almost all diamonds are flawed, those graded between I.F. and SI 2 have inclusions that aren’t visible to the naked eye, only under magnification.

Types of Inclusion

The different types of diamond inclusion include feather, pinpoint, cloud, and metallic. Metallic inclusions are only found in laboratory grown diamonds.

A TRICK OF THE LIGHT

Inclusions and blemishes can have an impact on the way a diamond reflects and absorbs the light.

I.F.

Internally flawless (privo di inclusioni interne)

VVS 1

VVS 2

Very very slightly included (inclusioni estremamente piccole)

VS 1

VS 2

Very slightly included (inclusioni molto piccole)

SI 1

SI 2

Slightly included (inclusioni piccole)

I 1

I 2

Included (inclusioni)

Diagramma di purezza del diamante

Scala e gradi di purezza del diamante

La scala di purezza del diamante va da I.F a I3 e si basa sul numero di inclusioni e imperfezioni riscontrate in ogni pietra. I gradi di purezza del diamante sono determinati in condizioni di visualizzazione standard con lente di ingrandimento 10x. La categoria I.F indica un diamante privo di inclusioni interne mentre, all’altra estremità del diagramma di purezza del diamante, I3 indica l’inclusione di un’imperfezione visibile. I diamanti completamente privi di inclusioni sono estremamente rari. Quasi tutte le pietre, compresi i diamanti creati in laboratorio, presentano inclusioni di qualche tipo.

Diagramma e simmetria del taglio del diamante

Che cos’è il taglio del diamante?

Il taglio si riferisce al modo in cui le sfaccettature del diamante interagiscono con la luce per rivelarne il fulgore interiore. Il taglio conferisce ad ogni pietra una personalità unica, mentre il perfezionamento delle proporzioni, la simmetria e le angolazioni tagliate con precisione dei diamanti creati in laboratorio conferiscono loro una brillante lucentezza.

Parametri e fattori di taglio

La qualità del taglio di un diamante creato in laboratorio è determinata dalle sue proporzioni, dalla sua simmetria e dalla sua lucidatura. Un taglio a regola d'arte crea molteplici sfaccettature che assorbono e riflettono la luce e fanno brillare la da ogni angolazione.

MASSIMA BRILLANTEZZA

Una forma tagliata a diamante perfettamente simmetrica con sfaccettature allineate rifletterà la luce con la massima intensità possibile, generando un'intensa lucentezza.

DIAGRAMMA DEI TAGLI DEL DIAMANTE

I tagli dei diamanti sono classificati dal IGI su una scala da Eccellente (Excellent) a Scarso (Poor). Un taglio eccellente richiede maestria tecnica, abilità artistica e competenza.

MOLTEPLICI SFACCETTATURE

Sfaccettatura è il termine utilizzato per descrivere ogni superficie piana che costituisce la superficie di un diamante. Ogni sfaccettatura assorbe e disperde la luce in modo diverso.

IL TAGLIO MIGLIORE

Se proporzione, simmetria e lucidatura determinano il posizionamento di un diamante nella classifica dei tagli, il taglio migliore è sempre quello che regala gioia.

Incolore

D-F

Quasi incolore

G-J

Leggermente colorato

K-M

Molto chiaro

N-R

Chiaro

S-Z

Scala e diagramma di colore del diamante

La colorazione dei diamanti è valutata su una scala da D a Z, in cui D indica un colore bianco ghiaccio limpido senza alcun accenno di giallo, mentre i diamanti classificati con Z presentano sfumature di giallo e marrone. Ogni lettera sul diagramma definisce una sfumatura della pietra: quelle classificate da D a F appaiono incolori, mentre quelle classificate da S a Z presentano tonalità giallo chiaro o marrone. Swarovski include nelle sue collezioni esclusivamente i diamanti creati in laboratorio della massima qualità, ovvero diamanti classificati da incolori a quasi incolori (fascia D-G).

Parametri e fattori cromatici

Le pietre incolori sono le più richieste nel mondo dei diamanti e sono estremamente rare. Gli Swarovski Created Diamonds vengono valutati secondo la scala standardizzata per il colore dei diamanti.

DIAMANTI INCOLORI

I diamanti veramente incolori sono estremamente rari. Noti anche come di tinta bianco ghiaccio, i diamanti di colore D sono i più costosi.

TROVA LA GRADAZIONE ADATTA A TE

Trovare un diamante di colore D non è sempre determinante per la scelta di una pietra. Un bianco di un tono più caldo potrebbe adattarsi meglio al tuo stile personale rispetto ad un bianco ghiaccio.

VALUTAZIONE REGOLATA

Il grado di colore di ogni diamante viene valutato in laboratorio utilizzando un’illuminazione regolata, con la pietra rivolta verso il basso e con campioni di riferimento utilizzati per il confronto.

IMPERFEZIONI

I diamanti creati in laboratorio non comportano imperfezioni intenzionali o difetti di colore che possono derivare dall'uso di semi di carbonio di qualità inferiore.

Che cos’è il peso in carati del diamante?

Il carato è l’unità utilizzata specificamente per determinare il peso delle pietre preziose, compresi i diamanti creati in laboratorio. Un diamante può avere un peso in carati superiore senza per questo essere di dimensioni maggiori e due diamanti dello stesso peso in carati possono avere dimensioni diverse se uno viene tagliato più in profondità dell’altro. Un carato pesa un quinto di grammo ed è suddiviso in 100 punti.

2,5 mm

0,05 ct

3,0 mm

0,10 ct

3,8 mm

0,20 ct

4,5 mm

0,30 ct

4,8 mm

0,40 ct

5,2 mm

0,50 ct

5,8 mm

0,70 ct

6,3 mm

0,90 ct

6,5 mm

1,00 ct

6,9 mm

1,25 ct

7,4 mm

1,50 ct

7,8 mm

1,75 ct

8,2 mm

2,00 ct

8,8 mm

2,50 ct

9,4 mm

3,00 ct

Peso in carati del diamante

Scala di caratura dei diamanti creati in laboratorio

Il nome della misurazione in carati deriva dalla parola “carruba”, un seme che veniva utilizzato come riferimento per il peso dei diamanti dai commercianti del mondo antico. I carati sono un’unità di misura standard internazionale per il peso di un diamante. Un carato equivale a 200 milligrammi, un diamante da 5 carati pesa dunque un grammo. Il carato del diamante non si riferisce alla dimensione di una pietra ma al suo peso. I diamanti diventano in genere più costosi con l’aumentare della loro caratura.

Scopri i diamanti

Brillantezza eterna

Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry herald the start of an exciting new chapter. Expanding our unmistakable savoir-faire into multidimensional new territories and breaking new ground in our mastery of cut and light-filled creation.

Discover Swarovski Created Diamonds

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All About Swarovski Created Diamonds

Laboratory Grown Diamonds

Discover the world of Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry, redefining the future of diamonds with exceptional collections that bridge the gap between tradition and current trends. From the otherworldly brilliance of our interstellar collection to the pure elegance of our signature pieces, find a style that will last a lifetime.

Laboratory Grown Diamonds Buying Guide

Find the perfect piece

A natural progression of our brand DNA, Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are laboratory grown diamonds, masterfully cut, intensely bright, and identical to their mined counterparts in every way but origin. Formed layer by layer from a carbon seed, they serve as a flawless reflection of nature’s radiance.

Read our Laboratory Grown Diamonds Buying Guide

What are Laboratory Grown Diamonds?

Laboratory Grown Diamonds explained

Find out more about diamonds that are grown in a laboratory, and how the process of replicating the way diamonds are formed in the earth is achieved. Discover the different cuts of diamonds in the Swarovski Created Diamond Collections, as well as the inspiration behind the designs.

What are Laboratory Grown Diamonds?

Frequently asked questions

Diamond 4Cs FAQs

What are the 4Cs?

Every diamond varies slightly from the next and has its own individual distinguishing characteristics. Laboratory grown diamonds are 100% diamonds, and just like mined diamonds our laboratory grown diamonds are evaluated according to the 4Cs of diamond grading. The 4Cs are color, clarity, cut and carat weight, and they are the globally accepted standards used to assess the quality of diamonds.

Is diamond clarity important?

The higher the clarity grading, the less inclusions or blemishes a diamond has, making it a higher-value diamond than one with a lower grading.

What is the highest diamond clarity?

Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity of the stone graded by the visibility of two types of characteristics - inclusions and blemishes.
In order to assess clarity, the diamond is inspected under 10x power magnification. The number and nature of external (blemishes), and internal characteristics (inclusions), as well as their size and position, determine the grade.
Gemologists grade diamonds from Internally Flawless (IF) as the highest quality to Included (I3).

Are laboratory grown diamonds flawless?

No, nearly all diamonds (mined or laboratory grown) have inclusions. Metallic inclusions can occur in laboratory grown diamonds. If an expert spots a trace of metal in a diamond, they can assume it is laboratory grown. While laboratory grown diamonds with defects do exist, Swarovski only uses high quality laboratory grown diamonds certified by the International Gemological Institute (IGI) according to the 4Cs to ensure that only the finest quality diamonds join the Swarovski Created Diamond collections.

Do laboratory grown diamonds get cloudy?

No, laboratory-grown diamonds do not get cloudy over time. They are 100% identical to diamonds with the same physical and chemical properties, and should not degrade or change appearance over time. Where poor quality diamond seeds have been used, some laboratory-grown diamonds contain obvious defects, such as color tinges from impurities in the diamond or crystal structure imperfections. The laboratory grown diamonds processed in Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are a very high quality standard and do not have unnatural, problematic characteristics.

How are laboratory grown diamonds certified and graded?

The laboratory grown diamonds processed in Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are hand-selected and examined by experienced gemologists to ensure they fulfill our high quality standards. Every piece of jewelry in the Galaxy and Eternity collections is accompanied with a digital laboratory report from the International Gemological Institute (IGI).

What are diamond facets?

Diamond facets refer to each flat surface that creates the shape of a diamond. Every diamond possesses multiple facets that enable it to absorb and reflect light.

How is diamond cut quality determined?

We often think of a diamond’s cut as shape (round, heart, oval, marquise, pear), but what diamond cut actually does mean is how well a diamond’s facets interact with light. The cut of a diamond is the measure of the quality of the shape, geometry and finish of the diamond. Round brilliant diamonds receive a formal cut grade on a scale from Ideal (the best) to Poor. Swarovski is uncompromising on cut quality to ensure all of our laboratory grown diamonds have optimal light performance and sparkle.

What is the best diamond cut?

Cut refers to how a diamond’s facets interact with light to reveal its internal fire. It is the cut that gives each diamond its personality, and perfecting laboratory grown diamonds proportions, symmetry, and precision-cut angles of Swarovski Created Diamonds gives them their brilliant shine. The best cut has a balance between the width and depth to create symmetry, neither to shallow nor to deep. Creating the perfect refraction point for light through the diamond, reflecting it within the diamond and highlighting its polished brightness.

How is a diamond’s color determined?

Color refers to the natural tint inherent in white diamonds. The industry standard for grading color is to evaluate each diamond against a master set then assign a letter grade from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).
The closer the diamond is to being colorless, the higher its quality.

Do laboratory created diamonds have blemishes?

Where poor quality diamond seeds have been used, some laboratory-grown diamonds contain obvious defects, such as color tinges from impurities or structural imperfections. Swarovski does not sell laboratory grown diamonds with unnatural, problematic characteristics.

What is diamond carat weight?

A carat is a unit of weight used specifically to measure precious stones including laboratory grown diamonds. A diamond may have a higher carat weight without appearing larger, and two diamonds of the same carat weight can vary in size if one is cut deeper than the other. One carat weighs 1/5 of a gram and is divided into 100 points.

What is the carat weight of a diamond, how is it measured and how important is it?

Carat weight it the standard weight unit for diamonds, and the first step in the grading process. Diamond carat weight is the measurement of how much the diamond weighs. Each carat can be subdivided into 100 “points.” This allows precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place. The weight of a diamond smaller than one carat may be described by its “points” alone. The larger the diamond is, the more carats it will be, but only you can decide how important that is to you.

Is it better to have a higher carat diamond?

This is an entirely personal question. If you are looking for a larger diamond, you should look for a higher carat, as this indicates the weight and therefore the size of the diamond.